The Victorian bushfires: remembering Sam the koala.

This week, Australia commemorates the first anniversary of the tragic bushfires that ripped through parts of Victoria leaving homes destroyed and families shattered.

Amongst all the heartfelt stories of loss and suffering there was one image that lent some hope; the footage of a stranded koala, lost in the ashes, being given a drink of water by a brave fire fighter.

The story of Sam the koala went right around the world, with photos appearing in the New York Times, London’s The Sun and on CNN.

Sam was sent to Mountain Ash Wildlife Shelter where she recovered from second degree burns after being administered pain killers her caretakers at the shelter expected that it would take her about eight months to recover but unfortunately, Sam passed away several months later.